Turning, changing, moving: we are never in a state of permanence
This morning I pulled a tarot card: it was the Wheel of Fortune. It signifies that life moves in circles: if we are experiencing a difficult period it provides some comfort as we know we will be moving into a better epoch and, conversely, if we are in a good period we shouldn’t grow complacent as it won’t last forever.
This card is essentially telling us to go with the flow. Something that is easier said than done; I still remind myself of this on a daily basis.
But if we can, life might become just that little bit easier. Letting go of our grip, loosening the reigns and allowing ourselves to just be, sometimes, actually most of the time, is enough.
A Wheel For Health
According to history, the wheel is an ancient symbol of balance, healing and connection often divided into four parts. These four parts can represent the cardinal directions, as well as seasons, life stages, elements of nature, and the many layers of the self.
This last one can be connected to the five sheaths in yoga philosophy: our physical body (Annamaya Kosha), our energy body (Pranamaya Kosha), our mental body (Manomaya Kosha), our intellectual body (Vijnanamaya Kosha) and our divine body (Anandamaya Kosha). Even though we have 5 layers here (unlike 4 spokes on the wheel), the fifth and most subtle body, the divine body, is often not represented physically.
More recently, the “Wellness Wheel” has been used as a useful tool to analyse a person’s whole being. Depending on your source, the various sections can differ slightly, but generally the themes similar such as: your environment, your family, your work, your goals and your own self image.
Why not take a moment today to reflect on your own emotional, physical, mental and spiritual connection at the moment? And how do these all contribute to your whole being?
The Core of You
Of course, the most important aspect of the wheel is the centre. It needs to be strong, grounded, connected. This idea of oneness or wholeness is crucial especially in holistic health and something that I feel very passionate about.
Every part of your life feeds into the core, every relationship, every thought, every decision no matter how big all make up who you are and add to the whole. So when stress or negative thoughts come up these can influence the entire structure and thereby affect your overall balance.
We are human, so this is going to happen. But it is more a question of how quickly we can notice and rebalance ourselves.
Ask yourself now: In what part of my life do I feel out of sync? Where am I not being nourished?
Whatever first comes to mind is probably the most pressing area of your life that needs a bit of extra attention. Do this lovingly, caringly as you would for someone you love. We are not judging our lives, we are merely trying to elevate our current state.
In this way, if we use the wheel as a reflector, we can place a mirror up to our internal world as much as our external one. Treat it as a continual process because we are constantly changing and adapting – so keep checking in with your wheel.
If you are interested in talking to me more about the areas of your life that need some rebalancing, then I’d love to hear from you!
All photos by Rosa Sawer
About the Author: Rosa Sawer
